On Africa Day we pay tribute to the continents rich heritage, diverse languages, ethnicity and cultural backgrounds.

Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), presently recognized as the African Union (AU). In celebrating Africa Day, we have the opportunity to recognize and honour our unique heritage, our rich linguistic history and the variety of art forms and music which gives this continent its rhythms and beat.

On Africa Day at Artscape Theatre, musicians will present songs associated with the continent: Pata Pata, Africa Unite and Mr Mandela. Their voices will also navigate District Six, a landmark in Cape Town’s resistance against apartheid. Participating musical groups are the Indigenous Ensemble, Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Khayelitsha Mambazo and the South Africa Youth Choir. The night’s conductor and musical manager will be Mike Campbell.

Bongani Sotshononda, head of the Indigenous Ensemble, is one of South Africa’s best musicians and composers. He is also an accomplished percussionist and chromatic marimba player. Sotshononda is also the founder of Indigenous Orchestra, which comprises an array of different African instruments. He adds his talents to make Africa Day at Artscape Theatre memorable.

The Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, launched in 2004, is the result of a programme of teaching and training young musicians through regular workshops, orchestra rehearsals and one-on-one tuition. The orchestra is currently working with the band Trenton and Free Radical on a video recording of their song, Mr Mandela. Trenton and Free Radical’s music is influenced by reggae, hiphop, ska and electronic music. Some of the musicians are classically trained or come from jazz backgrounds. The song is in honour of Nelson Mandela.

Khayelitsha Mambazo comprises ten men who formed their group in 1991. It has released three albums to date: Ijubane, Nguwelo Utshatayo and Siqoqe thina. The latter was recorded in Holland in January 2012. This group has previously been invited to perform in Brazil and Europe.The guys also went on an eight-month tour in Holland with the Amandla Mandela Musical. They have another European tour coming up next year.

The South Africa Youth Choir, launched in 2005, consists of 65 members aged 13 to 18. Its membership comprises high school learners from different backgrounds and all provinces in South Africa. This choir is a celebration of unity within cultural diversity. It has showcased its vast abilities on both local and international platform, entertaining a variety of audiences across the globe.